Christmas Island's administrator Jon Stanhope has credited Labor's Papua New Guinea deal for a dramatic reduction in asylum seeker boat arrivals, even though he is uncomfortable with the policy.

Mr Stanhope says since the policy was introduced in July, the number of boat arrivals has gone from about five a week to just one.

"There certainly has been a significant change in activity, certainly since the beginning of July the number of boat arrivals, the number of asylum seekers arriving on Christmas Island has decreased," he said.

"Since the new arrangement, the PNG solution, and the arrangements of the new government, there has been a steady decline in both boats and asylum seekers and I don't think it's coincidental."

Under the deal signed by Labor and largely adopted by the Coalition, all asylum seekers who arrive by boat are now sent to PNG for processing and, if found to be refugees, resettled there.

Mr Stanhope says he respects the Coalition's mandate to continue with the tough asylum seeker policy and will not be providing any commentary about it.

But he is highly critical of his own party's handling of the issue and its current policy position, even though it appears to be working.

"Is that the indicator of success that any asylum seeker that gets to Australia is immediately deported? Or is a key performance indicator or an indicator of success that you acted with compassion, that you acted with humanity?"

Mr Stanhope says many within Labor are uncomfortable with the party's policy and he is hoping the new leader - to be announced on Sunday - will change tack.

"There's a high level of concern, regret, and I think it's fair to say, anger," he added.

Mr Stanhope was in Canberra this week meeting the new Coalition Government and the minister responsible for Christmas Island, Jamie Briggs.